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The ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ’s Matthew DeFranks and Nathan Mills discuss the potential end to the Blues' playoff hopes, how the post-Olympics run impacted the on-ice product and draft position, then get to Jake Neighbours' tumultuous month.

Submit questions for a future episode via email to mdefranks@post-dispatch.com or via X (formerly Twitter) @MDeFranks.

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Blues haven't given up hope.

With a 6-2 win over the Ducks on Friday night, the Blues moved within three points of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with seven games remaining. The Blues (76 points in 75 games) have played one more game than the Sharks (79 points in 74 games).

The Blues signed defenseman Colin Ralph to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday afternoon.

The contract begins in the 2026-27 season, and Ralph will join AHL affiliate Springfield on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the season. Ralph was originally a second-round pick of the Blues in 2024, taken with the 48th selection overall.

There used to be a periodic feature in the Post-Dispatch sports section called "Sound Off," in which letters from readers to express their opinions on athletics topics were published.

It was the newspaper equivalent of social media before social media soared to prominence (albeit a more civil forum because personal attacks and foul or threatening language was not permitted) and we'll revive that old favorite of some folks, at least for a day.

In temporarily pushing themselves back into the mix of a Western Conference playoff push, the Blues rediscovered a formula that worked well down the stretch a year ago.

Defense and goaltending.

The Blues were left for dead in January, but their March revival might have just died on the first day of April.

A 2-1 overtime loss to the Kings on Wednesday night could be the final blow to the Blues' slim playoff chances, as they are four points out in the Western Conference with just eight games remaining.